Switzerland’s Hugo Koblet was born on March 21, 1925. He died on November 6, 1964.

The Swiss rider was the first non-Italian to win the Giro d'Italia.

He was the second Swiss rider to win the Tour de France.

He also twice won his home country's one-day classic.

Koblet was briefly part of one of the great periods of cycling during the post-war years.

Hugo Koblet and Ferdi Kublet were a powerful duo for Switzerland as they competed against Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, and Fiorenzo Magni of Italy plus Louison Bobet, Raphael Geminiani of France, plus Rik Van Steenbergen and Stan Ockers of Belgium. It was a golden time for cycling.

Koblet was known as the “Pedaler of Charm” because of his elegant position on the bike and his smooth pedaling style.

Koblet was the second Swiss rider to win the Tour de France, after Ferdi Kubler won it in 1950.

Koblet won the 1951 Tour de France in front of Raphael Geminiani of France and Lucien Lazarides of France.

Koblet was the first non-Italian to win the Giro d’Italia. He did that in 1950 in front Gino Bartali of Italy and Alfredo Martini of Italy.

Koblet also won the Mountains Jersey in the Giro d'Italia that year as well.

Koblet was 2nd in the 1953 Giro d’Italia behind Fausto Coppi of Italy.

Koblet was also 2nd in the 1954 Giro d’Italia behind Carlo Clerici of Switzerland.